Disgusting, simply disgusting...

downfader

..the way some disabled people get treated. :roll:

http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/24112009/ ... taken.html

Anonymous

WTF?!?

That is just ridiculous!!

downfader

NapoleonD wrote:

WTF?!?

That is just ridiculous!!

Apparently he was offered the airline chair but refused (I can imagine on grounds of loss of independence - you have to be wheeled about by others it seems)...

...the comments on there are quite disturbing too. I'm guess these idiots on there dont understand what it would be like for a human being to end up having to rely on another person to wheel them about. They've effectively said he should have put up and shut up. :shock:

clanton

I see this completely differently. The airline policy seems quite reasonable - they are supplying a wheelchair AT THE BOARDING GATE. Where was he going to go on his wheel chair once past there? In what way has his moblity been taken away? They are supplying a wheelchair that will work on the plane, his may not have, again - his mobility in this instance is increased, not impaired. Furthermore, where will his wheel chair have been stored on a plane? There isn't a whole lot of extra space inside the cabin.

This is political correctness gone too far. Read the comment from the disabled person who castigates his behaviour - I quite agree.

downfader

clanton wrote:

I see this completely differently. The airline policy seems quite reasonable - they are supplying a wheelchair AT THE BOARDING GATE. Where was he going to go on his wheel chair once past there? In what way has his moblity been taken away? They are supplying a wheelchair that will work on the plane, his may not have, again - his mobility in this instance is increased, not impaired. Furthermore, where will his wheel chair have been stored on a plane? There isn't a whole lot of extra space inside the cabin.

This is political correctness gone too far. Read the comment from the disabled person who castigates his behaviour - I quite agree.

My understanding was that the supplied wheel chair were small wheels and a bar to push them? Something he cannot push himself.

If anyone knows what type they use (or has pics) let me know as I'm dead curious about this now. :?

clanton

That may well be true - but the point is that it was to transfer him from the boarding gate, onto the plane and to his seat, then off the plane, presumably to meet his own chair at the boarding gate. Surely that is a very slight imposition whilst also being a pragmatic solution. My mate's wife is quadriplegic, she has a simply enormous wheelchair with all sorts of bells and whistles which I assure you would not fit inside a normal aircraft cabin. She does not expect any special priveleges.

downfader

clanton wrote:

That may well be true - but the point is that it was to transfer him from the boarding gate, onto the plane and to his seat, then off the plane, presumably to meet his own chair at the boarding gate. Surely that is a very slight imposition whilst also being a pragmatic solution. My mate's wife is quadriplegic, she has a simply enormous wheelchair with all sorts of bells and whistles which I assure you would not fit inside a normal aircraft cabin. She does not expect any special priveleges.

If its from the boarding gate I can understand, but the article implies he was forced to crawl around the airport due to the chair being taken sooner. :?

Oh well, interesting.

spen666

downfader wrote:

...
If its from the boarding gate I can understand, but the article implies he was forced to crawl around the airport due to the chair being taken sooner. :?

Oh well, interesting.

I read it that his wheelchair was to be checked in at the checkin desk and he was offered the airline wheelchair there.

Perhaps it should be done at gate if possible instead

However the person refused to use the chair and thus made it so he had no way of getting around other than crawling.

The disabled person was the author of his own misfortune by refusing the alternative wheelchair, which would have not been ideal but would be better than crawling

Ollieda

He was never forced to crawl through the airport, he decided to do it as a protest. Whilst I do have the deepest sympathy for those who have lost limbs or have a lack of control of them I do get annoyed when they demand services over and beyond what is reasonable.

For instance a few months ago I was on the bus and a lady in a wheelchair wanted to get on so the driver lowered the bus and put out the little ramp they have on board. She then said she couldn't move her wheelchair up that angle so the driver offered to push her wheelchair and she kicks of saying he was mocking her as she couldn't move and demanded the driver and us (the passengers) lift her and chair onto the bus at which point the driver refused, quite rightly so. After swearing at the driver for a while she wheels her wheelchair on with ease and we continue with the journey, late. Next week in the papers there's an article slamming the bus company and saying they mistreated this woman and didn't account for her needs!

volvicspar

The guy should have taken their wheelchair then he wouldn't have had to crawl through the airport.

mercsport

Interesting.

A little OT perhaps, but I recall once, on my travels, somewhere in the back of beyond of Peshawar, a woman in rags and copper begging bowl around her neck on her way to somewhere from somewhere - like the nearest habitation was hundreds of yards away, any whichway - covered in grime, but moving, barely, with the intent of those who have a destination. The thing was, she didn't have any arms or legs. Not even stumps of limbs, that I could discern that is. Her propulsion was by means of dragging herself along with her chin. All this, I supposed, to earn a few rupes by begging.

Even in that city of the maimed ( even more so these days ) it was a sight that stood out and I often think of her and wonder about her lot in life, and even if she made it through that day, for she looked so close to the end of it all.

I suppose the parable here is that, although you may think you've seen it all, there's always someone worse off.

mfin

There isn't enough in the story there to decide whats really gone on, but if the bloke just didn't wanna be wheeled through cos he found it degrading then chose to drag himself through the airport as some kind of protest then he sounds like a right moody prick to me. He could have taken the wheelchair and written a constructive letter outlining his concerns instead of showing off I would have thought. Of course, could always tippy-toe around the subject just cos he's disabled, but there you go, there's nothing about disabled people that means some of them can't be pricks too. Equality.

nolf

downfader wrote:

http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/24112009/ ... taken.html

EEEEURGH!!!
HE HASN'T GOT ANY LEGS!!!!!
GROSS!

Or was that not what you meant..?

wicked2627

Why should he be allowed his wheelchair on the flight? It can cause a hazard to others so must be stowed in the hold. To be honest, he should have asked about this prior to flying with the airline.

The airline met his needs, he just didn't agree with them. I'd like to be able to make a call on a flight but am not allowed to.

tri-sexual

i dont see why jetstar should apologise, they seem to have acted correctly
if the spoilt prat CHOOSE to crawl around an airport in a bid to seek attention and to embarrass the airline, let him
if i trip over him and injure myself be sure that i will make him crawl through the courts where i will sue the cr@p out of him

bobtbuilder

The guy should have taken their wheelchair then he wouldn't have had to crawl through the airport.

+1 for this. The airline supplied an alternative. This guy was just being a dick about it.

redddraggon

Isn't this just normal Aussie behaviour?

tri-sexual

redddraggon wrote:

Isn't this just normal Aussie behaviour?

nah, most 3 year olds behave the same way when they dont get their own way

Cressers

As mentioned earlier there isn't enough information to make an informed comment. But what if the man's wheelchair was specially adapted for his needs and the airline wheelchair didn't meet his needs?

As as for the people detracting him; why do you get so self-righteous? Does it give you the hard-on that you wern't able to give the missus last night?

tri-sexual

Cressers wrote:

As mentioned earlier there isn't enough information to make an informed comment. But what if the man's wheelchair was specially adapted for his needs and the airline wheelchair didn't meet his needs?

yeah you're right, he's probably special needs as well as disabled

Aggieboy

Cressers wrote:

As mentioned earlier there isn't enough information to make an informed comment. But what if the man's wheelchair was specially adapted for his needs and the airline wheelchair didn't meet his needs?
As as for the people detracting him; why do you get so self-righteous? Does it give you the hard-on that you wern't able to give the missus last night?

It probably met his needs better than crawling on the floor, I would suggest.

afx237vi

Hello. Real-life wheelchair user here.

I've flown quite a lot in my time and every single airline I've ever been on has allowed me to stay in my wheelchair for as long as possible. Usually that means pre-boarding before the other passengers, staying in my chair until I get on the plane seat, then having it taken away to be stored in the hold.

On the other side, I stay on the plane until all the other passengers get off then, have my chair brought to me. As far as I knew, this is standard procedure for every airline in every airport, so why didn't it happen with Jetstar? What difference does it make if this guy stays in his chair until he gets on the plane? It takes, what, a couple of minutes maximum to take his chair from the cabin to the hold once he's boarded?

For those complaining that he is just being awkward. Yes! Good on him. Their policy doesn't make any sense, so why shouldn't he kick up a fuss? It says they're now looking at an alternative policy - hopefully they will now consult with actual disabled people and ask them what would make their journey easier rather than choosing what is easiest for the airline.

And for those saying "oh but they offered him another wheelchair" - not all wheelchairs fit one person. Not all disabled people can sit comfortably in one wheelchair.

afx237vi

Aggieboy wrote:

Cressers wrote:

As mentioned earlier there isn't enough information to make an informed comment. But what if the man's wheelchair was specially adapted for his needs and the airline wheelchair didn't meet his needs?
As as for the people detracting him; why do you get so self-righteous? Does it give you the hard-on that you wern't able to give the missus last night?

It probably met his needs better than crawling on the floor, I would suggest.

And the next disabled person who checks in at the Jetstar desk? Maybe someone with a more severe disability than this guy who can't sit a bog-standard airport wheelchair?

Chip \'oyler

afx237vi wrote:

Hello. Real-life wheelchair user here.

I've flown quite a lot in my time and every single airline I've ever been on has allowed me to stay in my wheelchair for as long as possible. Usually that means pre-boarding before the other passengers, staying in my chair until I get on the plane seat, then having it taken away to be stored in the hold.

On the other side, I stay on the plane until all the other passengers get off then, have my chair brought to me. As far as I knew, this is standard procedure for every airline in every airport, so why didn't it happen with Jetstar? What difference does it make if this guy stays in his chair until he gets on the plane? It takes, what, a couple of minutes maximum to take his chair from the cabin to the hold once he's boarded?

For those complaining that he is just being awkward. Yes! Good on him. Their policy doesn't make any sense, so why shouldn't he kick up a fuss? It says they're now looking at an alternative policy - hopefully they will now consult with actual disabled people and ask them what would make their journey easier rather than choosing what is easiest for the airline.

And for those saying "oh but they offered him another wheelchair" - not all wheelchairs fit one person. Not all disabled people can sit comfortably in one wheelchair.

As the husband of an MS sufferer who has to use a wheelchair - I agree entirely with your post.

Wherever we have flown we've used our own wheelchair right up to the boarding stairs/gangway (luckily my wife can walk for very short periods). The cabin crew then fold her chair up and put it into the hold. As you say, we're usually first on and last off, but every carrier and aiport we've experienced the staff have been fantastic (apart from a grumpy bitch at Nice, but then again she was in security!)

And if we're ever in a same situation as the original protaganist - then I would kick up an almightly stink :evil:

clanton

Chip \'oyler wrote:

afx237vi wrote:

Hello. Real-life wheelchair user here.

I've flown quite a lot in my time and every single airline I've ever been on has allowed me to stay in my wheelchair for as long as possible. Usually that means pre-boarding before the other passengers, staying in my chair until I get on the plane seat, then having it taken away to be stored in the hold.

On the other side, I stay on the plane until all the other passengers get off then, have my chair brought to me. As far as I knew, this is standard procedure for every airline in every airport, so why didn't it happen with Jetstar? What difference does it make if this guy stays in his chair until he gets on the plane? It takes, what, a couple of minutes maximum to take his chair from the cabin to the hold once he's boarded?

For those complaining that he is just being awkward. Yes! Good on him. Their policy doesn't make any sense, so why shouldn't he kick up a fuss? It says they're now looking at an alternative policy - hopefully they will now consult with actual disabled people and ask them what would make their journey easier rather than choosing what is easiest for the airline.

And for those saying "oh but they offered him another wheelchair" - not all wheelchairs fit one person. Not all disabled people can sit comfortably in one wheelchair.

As the husband of an MS sufferer who has to use a wheelchair - I agree entirely with your post.

Wherever we have flown we've used our own wheelchair right up to the boarding stairs/gangway (luckily my wife can walk for very short periods). The cabin crew then fold her chair up and put it into the hold. As you say, we're usually first on and last off, but every carrier and aiport we've experienced the staff have been fantastic (apart from a grumpy ***** at Nice, but then again she was in security!)

And if we're ever in a same situation as the original protaganist - then I would kick up an almightly stink :evil:

Sorry - but did you read the article?

Quote:"It said its policy was for passengers in wheelchairs to be transferred to the airline wheelchair, which is easier to manoeuvre inside the plane, at the boarding gate."
As I read this they offered him exactly the same service the airlines have always offered you - which you have described as "fantastic". Why did he feel the need to kick off such a fuss?
As for the wheelchair not suiting his needs - his only complaint as per the article (which is all any of us have to go on" is that his mobility would have been impaired - how is this an issue when he would ha ve been on the plane all the time? I cannot believe a normal wheel chair would actually work on a plane due to the narrowness of the aisles. How would he get it into the toilet etc? As I see it using his own wheel chair would have impaired his mobility even further.

Chip \'oyler

clanton wrote:

Chip \'oyler wrote:

afx237vi wrote:

Hello. Real-life wheelchair user here.

I've flown quite a lot in my time and every single airline I've ever been on has allowed me to stay in my wheelchair for as long as possible. Usually that means pre-boarding before the other passengers, staying in my chair until I get on the plane seat, then having it taken away to be stored in the hold.

On the other side, I stay on the plane until all the other passengers get off then, have my chair brought to me. As far as I knew, this is standard procedure for every airline in every airport, so why didn't it happen with Jetstar? What difference does it make if this guy stays in his chair until he gets on the plane? It takes, what, a couple of minutes maximum to take his chair from the cabin to the hold once he's boarded?

For those complaining that he is just being awkward. Yes! Good on him. Their policy doesn't make any sense, so why shouldn't he kick up a fuss? It says they're now looking at an alternative policy - hopefully they will now consult with actual disabled people and ask them what would make their journey easier rather than choosing what is easiest for the airline.

And for those saying "oh but they offered him another wheelchair" - not all wheelchairs fit one person. Not all disabled people can sit comfortably in one wheelchair.

As the husband of an MS sufferer who has to use a wheelchair - I agree entirely with your post.

Wherever we have flown we've used our own wheelchair right up to the boarding stairs/gangway (luckily my wife can walk for very short periods). The cabin crew then fold her chair up and put it into the hold. As you say, we're usually first on and last off, but every carrier and aiport we've experienced the staff have been fantastic (apart from a grumpy ***** at Nice, but then again she was in security!)

And if we're ever in a same situation as the original protaganist - then I would kick up an almightly stink :evil:

Sorry - but did you read the article?

Quote:"It said its policy was for passengers in wheelchairs to be transferred to the airline wheelchair, which is easier to manoeuvre inside the plane, at the boarding gate."
As I read this they offered him exactly the same service the airlines have always offered you - which you have described as "fantastic". Why did he feel the need to kick off such a fuss?
As for the wheelchair not suiting his needs - his only complaint as per the article (which is all any of us have to go on" is that his mobility would have been impaired - how is this an issue when he would ha ve been on the plane all the time? I cannot believe a normal wheel chair would actually work on a plane due to the narrowness of the aisles. How would he get it into the toilet etc? As I see it using his own wheel chair would have impaired his mobility even further.

Sorry but did you read my post?

I never mentioned about being transferred into an airline wheelchair. We use our own wheelchair right up until my wife boards the plane. She sits in a normal chair during the flight then her own chair is waiting for her when she gets off.

DaSy

Wow, such compassion!

The guy had to check his wheelchair in, so had to get from the check in desk to the plane.

His issue appears to be that he had to be pushed from the check in to the boarding gate, thus losing his independence, which no doubt he has fought very hard to gain.

It sounds like the airline agrees with his issue, and judging by the fact that he had just returned from Papua New Guinea, I assume he has travelled before on planes, and that this situation was out of the ordinary, enough so for him to make this protest.

The best option would be to allow him to get to the boarding gate on his own chair and then be transferred to the airports own, but that doesn't sound like the option he was presented with.

afx237vi

clanton wrote:

Sorry - but did you read the article?

Quote:"It said its policy was for passengers in wheelchairs to be transferred to the airline wheelchair, which is easier to manoeuvre inside the plane, at the boarding gate."
As I read this they offered him exactly the same service the airlines have always offered you - which you have described as "fantastic". Why did he feel the need to kick off such a fuss?
As for the wheelchair not suiting his needs - his only complaint as per the article (which is all any of us have to go on" is that his mobility would have been impaired - how is this an issue when he would ha ve been on the plane all the time? I cannot believe a normal wheel chair would actually work on a plane due to the narrowness of the aisles. How would he get it into the toilet etc? As I see it using his own wheel chair would have impaired his mobility even further.

Nobody has said anything about keeping your wheelchair on the plane during the flight. The issue is about being able to stay in your own wheelchair for as long as possible, preferably until you're sat on the aeroplane seat. Then they can take it away and store it in the hold.

There is another article here where it states he was asked to check his wheelchair in with his luggage.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/travel/australia ... ir-affront

In my view that is utterly unacceptable. A wheelchair is not luggage.

Ollieda

Chip \'oyler wrote:

clanton wrote:

Chip \'oyler wrote:

afx237vi wrote:

Hello. Real-life wheelchair user here.

I've flown quite a lot in my time and every single airline I've ever been on has allowed me to stay in my wheelchair for as long as possible. Usually that means pre-boarding before the other passengers, staying in my chair until I get on the plane seat, then having it taken away to be stored in the hold.

On the other side, I stay on the plane until all the other passengers get off then, have my chair brought to me. As far as I knew, this is standard procedure for every airline in every airport, so why didn't it happen with Jetstar? What difference does it make if this guy stays in his chair until he gets on the plane? It takes, what, a couple of minutes maximum to take his chair from the cabin to the hold once he's boarded?

For those complaining that he is just being awkward. Yes! Good on him. Their policy doesn't make any sense, so why shouldn't he kick up a fuss? It says they're now looking at an alternative policy - hopefully they will now consult with actual disabled people and ask them what would make their journey easier rather than choosing what is easiest for the airline.

And for those saying "oh but they offered him another wheelchair" - not all wheelchairs fit one person. Not all disabled people can sit comfortably in one wheelchair.

As the husband of an MS sufferer who has to use a wheelchair - I agree entirely with your post.

Wherever we have flown we've used our own wheelchair right up to the boarding stairs/gangway (luckily my wife can walk for very short periods). The cabin crew then fold her chair up and put it into the hold. As you say, we're usually first on and last off, but every carrier and aiport we've experienced the staff have been fantastic (apart from a grumpy ***** at Nice, but then again she was in security!)

And if we're ever in a same situation as the original protaganist - then I would kick up an almightly stink :evil:

Sorry - but did you read the article?

Quote:"It said its policy was for passengers in wheelchairs to be transferred to the airline wheelchair, which is easier to manoeuvre inside the plane, at the boarding gate."
As I read this they offered him exactly the same service the airlines have always offered you - which you have described as "fantastic". Why did he feel the need to kick off such a fuss?
As for the wheelchair not suiting his needs - his only complaint as per the article (which is all any of us have to go on" is that his mobility would have been impaired - how is this an issue when he would ha ve been on the plane all the time? I cannot believe a normal wheel chair would actually work on a plane due to the narrowness of the aisles. How would he get it into the toilet etc? As I see it using his own wheel chair would have impaired his mobility even further.

Sorry but did you read my post?

I never mentioned about being transferred into an airline wheelchair. We use our own wheelchair right up until my wife boards the plane. She sits in a normal chair during the flight then her own chair is waiting for her when she gets off.

Sorry - did you read your own post?

The fact he dragged himself through the airport suggests that he cannot walk. If your wife were not able to walk short distances then I'm sure the airline would offer her a wheelchair to use on the plane. The airline haven't just taken his wheelchair off him and said get on with it, they have offered him a chair designed for the plane as he can't make that short walk inside the plane.

As mentioned by others we don't know the full facts, he may have been able to walk short distances and was told he had to use the chair, we don't know. As far as I can see in the article the airline have been more than reasonable in handling his needs and he has thrown up a fuss.

Obviously if there were other factors then I could understand him not being happy. Note: These are just hypothetical I.e. - if he could walk short distances to his seat and they refused and said he must use their wheelchair, or his wheelchair was already designed to be usable on planes. We don't know.

afx237vi

Ollieda wrote:

Sorry - did you read your own post?

The fact he dragged himself through the airport suggests that he cannot walk. If your wife were not able to walk short distances then I'm sure the airline would offer her a wheelchair to use on the plane. The airline haven't just taken his wheelchair off him and said get on with it, they have offered him a chair designed for the plane as he can't make that short walk inside the plane.

As mentioned by others we don't know the full facts, he may have been able to walk short distances and was told he had to use the chair, we don't know. As far as I can see in the article the airline have been more than reasonable in handling his needs and he has thrown up a fuss.

Obviously if there were other factors then I could understand him not being happy. Note: These are just hypothetical I.e. - if he could walk short distances to his seat and they refused and said he must use their wheelchair, or his wheelchair was already designed to be usable on planes. We don't know.

You still don't get it. Nobody is talking about using a wheelchair on the plane. The issue is about using a wheelchair in the airport after checking in - in the departure lounge, at the gate and getting onto the plane.

They asked him to check his wheelchair in with his luggage - ie, hours before he actually gets on the plane. He refused, as would I. In essence, they have "just taken his wheelchair off him and said get on with it" because without his own wheelchair he is unable to do things he would normally be able to do.

I ask you why Jetstar are the only airline in the world who don't let disabled people use their own wheelchairs past check-in.

Ollieda

afx237vi wrote:

http://www.stuff.co.nz/travel/australia ... ir-affront

One article claims it was at check-in one is claiming it was at boarding. If it were at check in then I can see why he kicked off about it. There is no requirement really for a special wheelchair around the airport other than it makes it a bit easier for baggage handlers to load all the baggage at once which is something I can imagine the airlines would want. If however it was at the boarding gate then I see no reason why he should comply with them. Looking at the facts of the case it does seems as though it happened at check in (why would he drag himself around the airport if he was already at the boarding gate?) If this is so then they should change their policy